Beating Al-Nassr by Cristiano Ronaldo in the semi-finals of the EFC Champions League “felt like a video game” to the striker of Kawasaki frontal Tatsuya Ito.
Ito scored the opening goal of Kawasaki as they amazement the Saudi Saudi Pro League team with a 3-2 victory in Djeddah, creating a final force with Al-Ahli on Saturday.
Sadio Mane canceled Ito’s strike, but Yuto Ozeki and Akihiro Ienaga scored each side of half-time to put Kawasaki 3-1, and they held after Ayman Yahya assured a tense final.
Kawasaki became the fifth Japanese team to reach the competition final, after the triple Urawa Red Diamonds champion, Gamba Osaka, Kashima Antlers and Yokohama Marinos.
Their triumph means that a Japanese club has reached the final of the last three editions, but whatever the result of Saturday, beating Ronaldo will live in memory for Ito for a long time.
“Al-Nassr A Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane and such big names, and in this match at times, there were difficulties in playing against them,” said former Japan Youth International.
“They attacked well but I was happy to be on the ground with them tonight.
“There were big names that played here. Before leaving on the field, they were next to me. It was as if it was a video game!”
Sitting eight points at the drift of the Saudi leaders of the Saudi Pro League Al-Ittihad with only five games to play, Al-Nassr is almost certain to undergo another season without trophy.
Ronaldo, who has not yet won a major honor since his move to Saudi Arabia in 2023, went to X after the match, writing: “Sometimes the dream must wait.
“I am proud of this team and everything we have given on the field. Thank you to all the fans who believed in us and that have been at every stage. Your support means the world.”
Head coach Stefano Pioli, on the other hand, blamed individual errors for Al-Nassr’s defeat when he defended his tactical approach to the game.
“We made a lot of mistakes and it cost us the match,” said Pioli. “It is always very difficult to lose in the semi-finals.
“Our opponent surprised us, they played at a very high level and the problem was that we were not disciplined. We made a lot of mistakes and we did not play our full capacity.
“I understand the criticism of tactics and at this kind of level, we knew the style of our opponent, but we were not good at applying the tactics and the style we trained on.
“We played the same style, we were no different as in the previous match. We did not do anything different. It is reality. It’s difficult for everyone.”
